We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Terri Wiley a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Terri, thank you for joining us today and sharing your experiences and acquired wisdom with us. Burnout is a huge topic these days and so we’d love to kick things off by discussing your thoughts on overcoming or avoiding burnout
I am a licensed attorney who practiced Family Law for ten years. I faced burnout during my time practicing in a field notorious for its emotional toll. I prioritized self-care, ensuring I had time for activities that rejuvenated me outside of work. This included regular exercise, I started working out at home with IfYouCanMove. I also created an intentional space for reading and spending quality time with friends and I started D. Laine Design. This business was created as a creative outlet to outset the emotional toll of my law practice.
Dealing with intense emotions on a daily basis can be draining. A creative outlet provides me with a safe space to express and release these emotions healthily, preventing them from building up and leading to burnout. Through these proactive measures, I was able to overcome burnout and emerge stronger, more resilient. and with a new business!
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
D. Laine Design is a business named after my children, who are both creatives. It began with me describing my designs to other people and having them bring them to life for my own personal wardrobe. But that got frustrating because it never seemed to really encompass my vision, So, I started researching how to make my own designs. I decided print-on-demand was the best business model for me if I wanted to expand beyond just making designs for myself. I enjoy creating apparel designs based on nostalgia, trending topics, and catchy or risqué quotes. However, the actual manual labor of printing and shipping orders was an added stress I did not want to add to my creative outlet.
The first t-shirt design that I created that was just not for my personal wear, was a SuperMom design I posted on a free print-on-demand platform in 2019. Since then I have slowly built an online presence focusing around each holiday season and offering custom designs upon request. I now operate D. Laine Design as an expression apparel brand, expanding beyond just t-shirts. In a world where social interactions can feel overwhelming, expression apparel is a unique way to communicate. D. Laine Design is where expression apparel speaks volumes without saying a single word. A showcase of graphic tees, sweatshirts, and, hoodies that allow everyone to embrace the art of self-expression. Our business motto is “Feel empowered to embrace your unique voice, wear your thoughts proudly, and “Say It With Your Chest”.
My goal is to continue to build D. Laine Design as a legacy brand to include the talents of my children who the business is named after. I envision expanding the brand to include visual arts, photography, writing, and a publishing.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
On my journey to entrepreneurship in a creative space, I have highly regarded the ability to adapt, stay resilient, and problem-solve. Even in the short time D. Laine Design has been in business, there has been substantial change in technology, trends, and customer preference. An entrepreneur must understand and accept the constant change in the business world. Pivot is a word that became commonplace during the pandemic to everyone but especially in business, there has to be a continued evaluation and ability to stay flexible. Staying agile in your strategies and response to circumstances is key to success.
Bouncing back from setbacks, failures, and challenges is crucial in entrepreneurship. Resilient entrepreneurs persevere through tough times, learn from their failures, and keep moving forward despite obstacles. Creative entrepreneurs also excel at identifying problems and finding unique and innovative solutions. They are adept at thinking critically, analyzing situations from different perspectives, and developing creative strategies to address challenges.
My advice to any entrepreneur is to stay educated in your area of business, so you can know when changes in the market are on the horizon, Do not allow yourself to remain complacent in what has worked in the past, open yourself up to possibilities and give yourself grace if something does not yield your desired results. Every result is a learning lesson.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
The most impactful things my parents have done for me are teach me hard work, discipline, and the ability to remain calm when needed.
Firstly, my mother instilled in me the importance of hard work. From a young age, I watched her work tirelessly to provide for my siblings and me and always emphasized the value of putting in the effort to achieve my goals. Whether it was schoolwork, extracurricular activities, or later, my career, she taught me that success comes from dedication and perseverance.
Secondly, they taught me the importance of discipline. They set clear expectations for me and held me accountable for my actions. Whether it was sticking to a study schedule, practicing a musical instrument or sports, or completing household chores, they taught me the importance of consistency and self-control.
Lastly, my father taught me the value of remaining calm in challenging situations. Life is full of ups and downs, and he showed me that keeping a level head and staying composed during difficult times is essential for making rational decisions and finding solutions to problems. He was known to be nonchalant but I knew it was because he knew not every situation deserved your energy. His guidance has helped me navigate through the storms of life with resilience and grace.
Thanks to their teachings, I have developed a strong work ethic, a disciplined approach to life, and the ability to keep my cool even in the most stressful situations. These qualities have been instrumental in shaping who I am today and have helped me achieve success in both my personal and professional life.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dlainedesign.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dlainedesign
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dlainedesign
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/dlainedesign
